(MENAFN) Following the success of the Syrian revolution that overthrew Bashar al-Assad's regime, there is a broad consensus among analysts that Israel's military actions in Syria are driven not by security concerns but by expansionist goals. This became evident when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his decision to abandon the 1974 ceasefire agreement and to begin controlling the buffer zone along the Golan Heights. In a swift move, the Israeli military launched a ground operation into Quneitra, occupied the summit of Mount Hermon, and took control of the buffer zone along the ceasefire line in the Golan Heights, all under the pretext of security and defense. Netanyahu's announcement was followed by a provocative speech from the top of Mount Hermon, in which he sought to sow division among the Syrian people, further revealing the ambitions of his right-wing government to expand Israel's territorial control in Syria.

This shift coincided with comments made by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during his election campaign, where he implied that Israel's territory was small and suggested that it would be expanded. Netanyahu's government appears to have formulated an occupation plan, using the pretext of security concerns to provoke the emerging Syrian leadership into a confrontation, hoping to impose occupation conditions before Syria's political leadership strengthens. In line with Netanyahu's announcement, Israel's Defense Minister, Yisrael Katz, instructed the Israeli military to intensify its presence in the Golan Heights and work toward "completing control of the buffer zone." Meanwhile, Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi described the Golan as a battlefront, a statement that analysts have interpreted as tantamount to declaring war on Syria.

However, not all analysts agree with the aggressive stance Israel has taken in the Golan. A report titled "The Fall of the Assad Regime: Between Risks and Opportunities," issued by Tel Aviv University's Center for National Security Research, advised caution and warned against getting involved in Syria's internal conflict. Kermit Valency, head of the Northern Front Program at the Center, argued that while the rebel forces in Syria are diverse, they do not compare to the military capabilities of Iran and its allies, which makes the Netanyahu government's security concerns in the region largely unfounded. Valency further stated that, given the unclear intentions of the Syrian opposition, Israel should prioritize dialogue with all parties involved in Syria's future. This approach could help Israel understand the evolving dynamics and potentially shape Syria's future in a way that benefits Israeli interests.

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